Riding the 7 Stanes
You can probably tell that I'm struggling to get back in to the swing of things around here, following the wedding and honeymoon. The fact that this weekend was a Bank Holiday didn't help. Nor did taking Friday off to travel to Scotland for a weekend mountain biking.
I got the opportunity to join seven other MTBers on a trip to the legendary 7 Stanes. Something I've been wanting to do for years now and I wasn't disappointed. This is the closest I've ever got to actual mountain biking.
On Friday we did Mabie. On Saturday we did both Dalbeatie and Kirroughtree. Sunday we managed drag ourselves round Ae (the shortest place name in the UK, which just happens to be spelt A and E!). In total we covered about 70 miles of serious off road track. I feel like I've got the legs of an old man today.
While I managed to navigate drop-offs and jumps that I'd normally avoid there were quite a few bits I opted out of. Most of these were on the double-black-diamond graded route. Not only was my bike not up to it but I'm self employed and have a mortgage to pay. There's no way I can risk a broken arm/leg/finger. I just can't take risks like when I was seventeen.
Anyway, if you're in to mountain biking and you've yet to make it to the 7 Stanes you must go. The downhill singletrack sections are mind-blowing and had me screaming with joy as I rode them.
Luckily I have nothing planned for the next few weeks/months so I can concentrate on getting my routine back. Stick with me guys.
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Hey Jake,
I'm shopping for a new bike these days. What were you riding on the weekend? Full suspension I imagine?
Full-sus? That's for girls! I ride my trusty Trek 7000 hardtrail {Link} It's the '99 model and no longer in production. It's done my well over the past 7 years.
It showed its age over the weekend, but we still managed to tackle the course along with the other guys on their full-sussies.
Most (99%) of my riding is on simple undemanding track around where I live and so I have no cause for all that suspension.
Most of the others guys there had full-sus bikes though. I don't know enough to recommend any but the Scotts and Specializeds seemed to the most popular.
I loved my hard tail - however I moved to a x-country bike. But, riding a big full-sus down some steep trails is like riding a cadillac down the hill. Super Fun though.
I don't know what sort of bikes they have there, but Vancouver, BC, CA has some of the best mbiking there is and we build a lot of our own bikes here. Cove Bikes, Norco, Giant. But, we are downhill snobs here, I'm sorry, I can't help it. Whistler is at my doorstep....
However, my current ride is a xcountry bike, Specialized FSR Comp. Its little, light, and has shorter cranks - but it can handle anything you throw at it except large drops. (Anything over 75 cm is too much for me). And, I NEVER have to push it up or down the hill.
But if you are into large drops - it just depends upon how much you want to spend. Get a good fork and a stiffer spring if you are heavy as you will need it. My husband is approx 110 kilos so needs some stiff suspension to land anything higher than that
Hi Pam. We have the same bikes here. In fact one guy this weekend had a Stiffee.
Apparently the 7 Stanes in Scotland are the best riding this country (as in Great Britain, rather than England) has to offer. I can only imagine what the riding at Whistler and other places in North America is like. At my age and skill level I think I'll stick to this side for now though.
Anyway, what's the difference between a x-country and a hardtail? I thought that would be the same thing.
Never mind talking about blokes with stiffees - you're a married man now, that stuff should all be behind you. Where's the wedding photos?
If you want to go that way, Mark, how about riding a "Peeler" or a "Hummer" - you can check those out at covebikes (Small town bike shop in a big city)
Any way, Jake, I'm riding this bike, {Link}
which is made for x-country, all though I ride the North Shore as well.
Hardtails used to be just for cross country, but now, places like Norco and Cove are building them to be able to withstand the drops. A lot of freeride bikes are now these heavy hard tails like the "stiffie" because they are easier to manipulate in the air than those big DH's.
It just depends on what you want to ride. The trouble with dual-sus is that when pedalling you lose a lot of the power to the suspension. With a x-country bike they've changed the suspension so that pedalling does not take away your power. They also have some decent granny gears that let you climb with the best of them.
Whatever you ride, go hard, or go home!
Try this link instead
{Link}
I'm toying with a Canadian brand, Rocky Mountain, but we'll see.
Thanks for the info. You should put Karen and that Trek of yours on a plane and come ride the Rockies.